Comment by soneca

In Brazil we have a startup with the exactly same model (www.cabenamala.com.br).

First of all, the math used in the example only makes sense if the individual bringing the laptop doesn't pay the taxes forit. At least in Brazil, this is illegal. Even if you are bringing a laptop for personal use, you must pay some high taxes (~50%). Cabe na mala says in its pitch that all travelers pay the according taxes.

But the difference between USA and Brazil prices are so big that even with the taxes, it makes sense. The cost comes down from mainly two factors: distribution and price strategy from the manufactors. For distribution, a traveler in need of cash might be very cheap to carry a laptop back home. And as price strategy, Sony, Apple and others often position their products as a more "premium" product in Brazil than in USA. So in Brazil you are paying an extra for the brand, for the privilege, for the luxury of having an iPhone or a PS4.

EDIT: For clarifying, i used "we" in the sense of our startup community, as a brazilian or seomthing like that. I am in no way related to this startup, I don't even know the founders. Just listened a pitch from them.